[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 34228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13768]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB193]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce, and Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS and USFWS announce the initiation of a 5-year review for 
the Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). We are required by 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure 
that the species' listing status remains accurate. The 5-year review 
must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at 
the time of the review. We request submission of any such information 
on the Kemp's ridley, particularly information on the status, threats, 
and recovery of the species that has become available since the last 5-
year review was published in July of 2015.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than August 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0063, by the following method:
     Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0063 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon 
and complete the required fields. Enter or attach your comments.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified 
period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information submitted 
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 
anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish 
to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz, by phone at (301) 
427-8443 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our 5-year review of 
the Kemp's ridley, which is listed as an endangered species under the 
ESA. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires us to conduct a review of 
listed species at least once every 5 years. On the basis of that 
review, we are required to determine whether a listed species should be 
removed from the list (i.e., delisted) or reclassified from endangered 
to threatened or from threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C. 
1533(c)(2)(B)). The regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we 
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing species under 
active review.
    Background information on the species is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/kemps-ridley-turtle.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the review is complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new 
information from the public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other 
interested parties concerning the status of the species. Categories of 
requested information include: (1) Species biology including, but not 
limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, 
and genetics; (2) habitat conditions including, but not limited to, 
amount, distribution, and important features for conservation; (3) 
status and trends of threats to the species and its habitats; (4) 
conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the 
species, including monitoring data demonstrating effectiveness of such 
measures; (5) need for additional conservation measures; and (6) other 
new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, 
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for 
evaluating extinction risk.
    If you wish to provide information for the review, you may submit 
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section). 
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting 
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of 
pertinent publications.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: June 23, 2021.
Margaret H. Miller,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13768 Filed 6-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P